The military correspondent also explained why the occupiers “clung to” Bakhmut.
The Russians continue to try to surround Bakhmut. They have blocked the route from the north, they also completely control the east. Currently, the occupiers want to “cut” the Bakhmut – Kostyantynivka highway.
As military correspondent Andrii Tsaplienko told on the air of 1+1, Russia wants to repeat in Bakhmut the scenario that it arranged in Severodonetsk: to cut off all the main supply routes to the city, hoping that the Armed Forces will withdraw from there.
The journalist says that the battles for the fortress city of Bakhmut are taking place in the urban area: in the southern, eastern and northern parts of the city. Tsaplienko also reminded, with reference to intelligence data, that by the end of March 2023, Putin wants to take over the entire Donbas.
The military correspondent also explained the strategic importance of the defense of Bakhmut, because in the event of its loss, it will open the way to Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk for the invaders.
The situation in Bakhmut and the battles for the fortress city
The Institute for the Study of War stated that Russia was able to maintain offensive momentum in the Bakhmut area after several months of heavy fighting due to the transfer of landing units of the regular army to this area.
Earlier, American officials told Bloomberg that the United States believes that Ukraine will have to withdraw from Bakhmut. The Ukrainian military is advised to wait for the delivery of new weapons.
On February 3, 2023, it became known that near Bakhmut, servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft.
And the gradual advance of the Russian occupiers in the Bakhmut area creates problems with the supply of the Ukrainian garrison in the city. The Russians have established fire control along two main roads, British intelligence states.
It should be noted that fierce battles for Bakhmut in the Donetsk region have been going on since the summer of 2022, and Ukrainian defenders are courageously defending the fortress city.
